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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Yesterday” is predominantly composed in the key of F Major. The song is a classic in pop songwriting and showcases the effective use of borrowed chords to capture a unique, nostalgic sound that has made it one of the most covered songs in pop music. Specifically, in this verse, the use of secondary dominants and borrowed chords from the parallel minor key provides the song’s distinctive tonal color.

This chorus from The Beatles’ “The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill” is an example of clever use of common chord transitions with several shifts in tonality. The chord progression uses the tonic key of C Major and F minor, showing complex modulation derived from modal interchange and secondary dominant techniques.

“Little Red Corvette” by Prince is in the key of Gb Major. The song is a staple of 80’s pop and a good example of Prince’s signature sound of fusing elements from different genres, such as funk, pop, and rock. It’s a strong blend of complex chord progressions and simple, catchy melodic lines which adds a compelling depth to the music.

The song “Every Day is Exactly the Same” by Nine Inch Nails is in E minor key. The chord progression found in the chorus consists mainly of common chords found in the E minor key, along with a couple of borrowed chords from E major. The use of borrowed chords adds unique color and tension to the music.

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, is characterized by a lush, cinematic melody that encapsulates John’s knack for crafting pop ballad choruses. Its base key is D Major, showcasing a mix of diatonic, dominant seventh, and borrowed chords. Its diverse chord progression is reflective of Elton John’s diverse influences, which include pop, rock, blues, and classical music.

The Beatles – Yesterday – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
Em7 (‘VI min7’), A7 (‘II dom7’), Dm (‘VI min’), Dm/C (‘VI min/C’),
Bb (‘IV maj’), Gm (‘II min’), C (‘V maj’), F (‘I maj’),
Em7 (‘VI min7’), A7 (‘II dom7’), Dm (‘VI min’), Dm/C (‘VI min/C’),
Bb (‘IV maj’), Gm (‘II min’), C (‘V maj’), F (‘I maj’)
“`
In this progression, A7 and Dm/C are the borrowed chords. The A7 acts as a secondary dominant, which leads to Dm and provides an interesting shift in the tonal center, creating a sense of tension and release. The Dm/C is borrowed from F Lydian mode, creating a smooth bass descent.

Similar Chord Progressions

-“Someone Like You” by Adele:
[‘Dmaj’, ‘Bmin’, ‘F#min’, ‘Dmaj’, ‘Gmaj’, ‘Dmaj’, ‘Gmaj’, ‘Dmaj’]
-“Hotel California” by The Eagles:
[‘Bmin’, ‘F#’, ‘A’, ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘F#’]
Both of these songs also use a VI min chord and creating a similar sense of falling motion within the chord progression. Additionally, both songs also make use of a IV maj chord in a similar context to create a sense of resolution.

Musical Analysis

The progression begins and ends on the tonality of the song, F major, with a winding chromatic sequence in between that creates tension and release. The use of the borrowed chords A7 and Dm/C provides an unexpected shift in tonality, giving an element of surprise, and the shift from Dm to Bb and then to Gm creates a rich, mournful sound.

Overall Analysis

The song “Yesterday” by The Beatles is in the key of F major and spans chord I to VI. It is characterized by a deeply expressive melody and distinctive harmony. The chord progression seems simple, yet it makes full use of secondary dominants, borrowed chords, and subtly shifting tonal centers for narrative, which is a trademark of The Beatles’s songwriting style.

Style Analysis

The Beatles often made use of modal interchange and secondary dominants to add interest and depth to their chord progressions, and this song is no exception. The melody relies heavily on the notes of the underlying chords, giving the song a strong sense of harmonic progression.

Chords in the Chorus section of Yesterday by The Beatles are:

[‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’]